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Reginald Perrin #1-3
[(The Reginald Perrin Omnibus: (Reginald Perrin))] [ By (author) David Nobbs ] [January, 2002]
Reginald Iolanthe Perrin is surely one of the best loved comic creations of our time, both in literatire and television. In this paperback omnibus, David Nobbs' books of Reggie Perrin's adventures are collected together. Included are "The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin," "The Return of Reginald Perrin," and "The Better World of Reginald Perrin."
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First published January 1, 1990
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February 24, 2017Humour is an earnest business.
Having dim, yet warm memories of this being on the telly when I was child ("I didn't get where I am today...") I bought this omnibus edition only to find it slightly disappointing and ultimately depressing.
Reginald Perrin is a burnt out business man on the brink of a nervous breakdown, employed as a senior wage slave for a desert manufacturer to which he commutes daily while struggling with the crossword. Naturally the only possible escape from this situation is for him to fake his own suicide by abandoning a pile of clothes on the beach before moving back in with his wife under the pretence that he is his own long lost Brazilian identical twin brother. Perhaps the man recently released from prison for fraud having faked his own suicide and then hiding next door to his own house which he could access via a wardrobe was inspired by this programme. Who knows. Strange things happen.
From here on Perrin has repeated successes running various businesses, which rather like the original desert company, provide fundamentally flawed products including a training centre staffed by the flawed and incompetent ,catering to the bored middle classes, and a chain of shops selling goods that are shoddy and expensive.
All these businesses have the same problem which is that Perrin is self-destructive. He recreates the same psychological situation even to the extent of consistently and exclusively employing people that he's worked with, and hated working with, before. I found the repetition wearying and the effect depressing rather than comic. Like watching an animal in too small an enclosure at the zoo repeat the same actions ceaselessly. Mind you, I've seen people laugh over that too.
Then there is the sexual relationship between the uncle and his (adult) niece, which because of his neediness and her joyless acquiescence is disturbing and unsettling. That coupled with the description of the identikit housing estates leaves the impression that alcoholism is the only legitimate life style choice . Hoarding rifles in preparation to launch a right wing reign of terror in the event of national collapse isn't the most promising comic material either - although they have a fair stab at it.
As a comedy this worked better on TV and since timing is the essence of comedy I suppose I could simply have been reading too slowly...or too quickly, as a picture of national life in the 1970s and early 80s it is unfailingly grim. There is a way in which a person on the perpetual brink of a mental breakdown, living in a society which has already fallen over the edge is bound to be successful. He is the one eyed man in the kingdom of the blind. Of course if you are seeing the late 1970s as a period of a melt down of values in the face of relentless consumerism and the unceasing pace and demands of life then where do you go once you hit the 1980s? Goodness is that the time? Time for a drink. Cheers.
Having dim, yet warm memories of this being on the telly when I was child ("I didn't get where I am today...") I bought this omnibus edition only to find it slightly disappointing and ultimately depressing.
Reginald Perrin is a burnt out business man on the brink of a nervous breakdown, employed as a senior wage slave for a desert manufacturer to which he commutes daily while struggling with the crossword. Naturally the only possible escape from this situation is for him to fake his own suicide by abandoning a pile of clothes on the beach before moving back in with his wife under the pretence that he is his own long lost Brazilian identical twin brother. Perhaps the man recently released from prison for fraud having faked his own suicide and then hiding next door to his own house which he could access via a wardrobe was inspired by this programme. Who knows. Strange things happen.
From here on Perrin has repeated successes running various businesses, which rather like the original desert company, provide fundamentally flawed products including a training centre staffed by the flawed and incompetent ,catering to the bored middle classes, and a chain of shops selling goods that are shoddy and expensive.
All these businesses have the same problem which is that Perrin is self-destructive. He recreates the same psychological situation even to the extent of consistently and exclusively employing people that he's worked with, and hated working with, before. I found the repetition wearying and the effect depressing rather than comic. Like watching an animal in too small an enclosure at the zoo repeat the same actions ceaselessly. Mind you, I've seen people laugh over that too.
Then there is the sexual relationship between the uncle and his (adult) niece, which because of his neediness and her joyless acquiescence is disturbing and unsettling. That coupled with the description of the identikit housing estates leaves the impression that alcoholism is the only legitimate life style choice . Hoarding rifles in preparation to launch a right wing reign of terror in the event of national collapse isn't the most promising comic material either - although they have a fair stab at it.
As a comedy this worked better on TV and since timing is the essence of comedy I suppose I could simply have been reading too slowly...or too quickly, as a picture of national life in the 1970s and early 80s it is unfailingly grim. There is a way in which a person on the perpetual brink of a mental breakdown, living in a society which has already fallen over the edge is bound to be successful. He is the one eyed man in the kingdom of the blind. Of course if you are seeing the late 1970s as a period of a melt down of values in the face of relentless consumerism and the unceasing pace and demands of life then where do you go once you hit the 1980s? Goodness is that the time? Time for a drink. Cheers.
February 16, 2020
Think the TV series is better than the books
April 10, 2021
This is all three books in the series, so you can follow Reggie’s progress from Sunshine Desserts, to Grot, to forming a commune. If you’ve seen the TV version you’ll have an idea what to expect, all the catch phrases, the I didn’t get where I am todays, cockups on the catering front, greats and supers are all present and correct, as are the increasingly bizarre excuses for trains arriving late. The books do have a bit more of a subversive edge than the TV adaptation though.
Although written over 40 years ago, the themes here – the drudgery of life on the corporate treadmill, the preoccupations and expectations of society – still feel remarkably current. Best of all though the tale remains gloriously, irreverently funny.
Although written over 40 years ago, the themes here – the drudgery of life on the corporate treadmill, the preoccupations and expectations of society – still feel remarkably current. Best of all though the tale remains gloriously, irreverently funny.
February 17, 2024
No he llegado a donde estoy leyendo hasta el final todos los libros que comenzaba. (guiño, guiño, codazo, codazo)
En este caso me he conformado con la primera novela de las tres que integran el omnibus. Me he hacercado al libro buscando humor inglés del bueno me he encontrado ironía y sarcasmo de los normalitos. La historia de la crisis de mediada edad de Reginald Perrin toca demasiados de los puntos sensibles de un burgués cincuentón como yo para que la incipiente sonrisa no se hiele en un rictus en más de una ocasión. La resolución tampooco me ha resultado muy satisfactoria. Quizá retome el libro en un viaje largo en el que no tenga la cabeza para cosas más pesadas.
De momento creo que volveré a visitar la serie de televisión.
En este caso me he conformado con la primera novela de las tres que integran el omnibus. Me he hacercado al libro buscando humor inglés del bueno me he encontrado ironía y sarcasmo de los normalitos. La historia de la crisis de mediada edad de Reginald Perrin toca demasiados de los puntos sensibles de un burgués cincuentón como yo para que la incipiente sonrisa no se hiele en un rictus en más de una ocasión. La resolución tampooco me ha resultado muy satisfactoria. Quizá retome el libro en un viaje largo en el que no tenga la cabeza para cosas más pesadas.
De momento creo que volveré a visitar la serie de televisión.
August 16, 2025
Primer libro de la lista que no me gustó. ALERTA DE SPOILER: La historia general del libro es divertida; un hombre que está aburrido de su vida y decide simular su suicidio, entonces empieza una nueva vida. En su nueva vida tiene otro trabajo, se vuelve a aburrir, luego vuelve a cambiar todo y termina vendiendo cosas inútiles en una tienda. Mi problema con el libro radica en lo repetitivo que se vuelve el argumento y en lo lenta que es la historia.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2021
A Classic of Comic Invention
I didn’t get where I am today without recognising a fine character driven satire on twentieth century England. It is clearly funny with dark shadows kept nearly out of sight. Most readable!
I didn’t get where I am today without recognising a fine character driven satire on twentieth century England. It is clearly funny with dark shadows kept nearly out of sight. Most readable!
May 31, 2022
I remember the 70s TV series; Sunshine Desserts, Grot, CJ “I didn’t get to where I am today…”, the farting chair, hippopotamus mother-in-law, Joan the secretary, Reggie faking his death and so on.
Enjoyed the first two books which were 4⭐️ but the third not so much, so overall gave the omnibus 3⭐️
Enjoyed the first two books which were 4⭐️ but the third not so much, so overall gave the omnibus 3⭐️
April 6, 2021
A funny book about a man who is tired of the mundane and logical and sets out to be illogical and find out what life holds for a man going through a midlife crisis.
April 10, 2023
I've read all three books, but many years ago now. I did enjoy all three, but felt that the first two were the best. The final book, about Reggie setting up a middle class communal settlement didn't quite work for me. It had it's moments, but not as good as the first two.
The BBC TV series, an adaptation by Nobbs of his books are also very good. This is largely because of the excellent cast, with Leonard Rossiter playing Reggie to perfection.
It is worth noting that there was a TV spin off to the Perrin series, well, sort of. The original Perrin series had Geoffrey Palmer playing the role of Jimmy Anderson, Elizabeth's brother and ex-military who was in despair about what he saw as the breakdown of modern society. He was always planning for the day when "the balloon went up" and he could lead a coup. Years later Palmer more or less recreated the role of Jimmy as Major Harry Kitchener Wellington Truscott in the comedy series Fairly Secret Army. It can usually be found on YouTube.
The BBC TV series, an adaptation by Nobbs of his books are also very good. This is largely because of the excellent cast, with Leonard Rossiter playing Reggie to perfection.
It is worth noting that there was a TV spin off to the Perrin series, well, sort of. The original Perrin series had Geoffrey Palmer playing the role of Jimmy Anderson, Elizabeth's brother and ex-military who was in despair about what he saw as the breakdown of modern society. He was always planning for the day when "the balloon went up" and he could lead a coup. Years later Palmer more or less recreated the role of Jimmy as Major Harry Kitchener Wellington Truscott in the comedy series Fairly Secret Army. It can usually be found on YouTube.
August 24, 2011
It's been years since I first read David Nobbs's wonderful Reggie Perrin novels, so it's time to enjoy them all over again. 5 ***** for the Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. Now for the next two. . . .
THE RETURN OF REGINALD PERRIN completed. Just as good. I didn't get where I am today without knowing a funny book when I read one.
A great couple of days getting reacquainted with Reginald Iolanthe Perrin and the crew. Now I have to re-read the final book, THE LEGACY OF . . ., but that can wait for a while.
THE RETURN OF REGINALD PERRIN completed. Just as good. I didn't get where I am today without knowing a funny book when I read one.
A great couple of days getting reacquainted with Reginald Iolanthe Perrin and the crew. Now I have to re-read the final book, THE LEGACY OF . . ., but that can wait for a while.
November 6, 2012
Three books in one volume, so I'll distribute the stars to the individual books and get credit for reading more (and weigh my Goodreads account more heavily toward David Nobbs' books).
Anyhoo, it reminded me of Garrison Keillor stuff, midlife-crisis-y, wistfully funny. The themes, as I think they were presented in the books, are:
Bk. 1. Life's too short.
Bk. 2. Life goes on.
Bk. 3. You must be thankful.
Works for me.
Anyhoo, it reminded me of Garrison Keillor stuff, midlife-crisis-y, wistfully funny. The themes, as I think they were presented in the books, are:
Bk. 1. Life's too short.
Bk. 2. Life goes on.
Bk. 3. You must be thankful.
Works for me.
March 31, 2007
The character Reginald Perrin first entered my life as part of a BBC comedy series way, way back in the 70's. The show was excellent and many years later after reading this book I now fully appreciate just how excellent it really was.
A great book covering all types of humour from ultra-dry cynicism to outright farce. Reggie Perrin a true white collar hero.
A great book covering all types of humour from ultra-dry cynicism to outright farce. Reggie Perrin a true white collar hero.
April 1, 2014
I can't say enough good things about this book. It is truly one of my all time favorites. For fans of the TV series, this is a bit darker, a bit bleaker than the TV show, but to me that was the best part of the adventure of reading this book. Some shocking things were left out of the TV series which I won't spoil for you but well worth the read.
January 20, 2015
Excellent humour surrounding one man's midlife crisis, much darker than the tv series. It's an interesting read in 2015 as the original books were published in the mid to late 70s and it is surprising how certain attitudes have changed. However, the ongoing frustration of a mundane life does not change! Certainly worth reading whether you've seen the tv series or not.
February 15, 2015
a bit dated. great to remind myself of the 'super' and 'great' TV show with Leonard Rositter. as a chronicle of a mid life crisis and the dehumanising effects of the corporate world in which Reggie Perrin exists its very funny. Reggie's subsequent exploits with 'Grot' and his middle age commune 'Perrins' are very funny piss take of consumerism and the new age commune idea.
April 25, 2013
This is a volume comprising three novels.
September 28 2012 I finished the first of these, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, and enjoyed it immensely. Now a break for something different, then I'll come back for the second.
September 28 2012 I finished the first of these, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, and enjoyed it immensely. Now a break for something different, then I'll come back for the second.
February 11, 2016
This encompases all the Reginald Perrin episodes from the British comedy show and goes far beyond that. Much more low-key and not as knee-slappingly funny as the TV series, but a great, albeit MASSIVE read. The trade paperback is about a zillion pages long.
September 13, 2013
Great British comedy worth every page turn!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews